Stone-picking machine.



D. R. FITZ SIMONSv STONE PICKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. :1. I917.

Patented @1223, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY S E S S E N W W D. R. FITZ SIMONS.

STONE PICKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I7. 19!]. M"

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

2 SHEHS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY h ti.

stones in the DAVID R. FJETZ SIMONS, F BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

STONE-PICKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 23, 191%..

Application flledl August 17, 1917. Serial No. 186,772.

To all whom it may concern."

]Be it known that T, DAVID R. Fnrz SrMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residin at lBeave in the county of Beaver and of Fe nsylvania, have invented certarn new and useful Improvements in Stone-Fmkmg Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

This inventionrelates to stone gatherers and-has for its principal object the production of a machine so constructed as to gather ath of its movement.

Another 0 ject of this invention is the production of a stone gatherer which 1ncludes an efficient means for supporting a scoop on the top of the front axle and a box upon the lower portion of sa1d axle, thus permitting a conveyer to'be secured to the box, thus causing the forward end of the conveyer to be below the rear end of the scoop to allow the stones gathered by the scoop to be deposited upon the conveyer;

A still further object of this invention is the production of a stone gatherer wherein the scoop is hingedly supported thereby allowing stones and soil to be deposited upon a conveyer when the machine is in use, although when it is not desired to gather stones or when the machine is being moved from place to lace theforward portion of the scoop may e lifted to an elevated position.

Uther objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the descri tion and wherein like numerals are emp oyed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the stone gatherer showing the same when in condition to be used.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal View through the stone gathere'r.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View through a portion of the device, illustrating specifically the mounting of the conveyer frame on the rear axle, and the means for shifting the clutch.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view through the forward portion of the machine, showing clearly the connection between the scoop and forward axle.

Fig. 5 ,is a fragmental transverse sectional view through the rear portion of the tate Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view machine illustrating the manner in which power is imparted from the driving wheels to the conveyer.

of a portion of the scoop.

Fig. 7 is an elongated sectional view through the portion of the scoop showing specifically the locking connection for the two sections of the scoop.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the conveyer showing the manner in which the same is mounted upon its track.

Fig. 9 is another sectional view of the conveyer illustrating the manner in which the bars of the conveyer are secured to the chains thereof.

cured to the forward axle 1 and has the usual pole 4: and whifiletree 5 secured thereto. Thus it will be seen that means are provided for propelling the forward axle l.

and the auxiliary section 7 which are hingedly secured to ether as shown at 8. These sections 6 and T have flanges 9 formed thereon which will direct the earth and stones upwardly as the machine digs into the ground as illustrated in Fig/ In order to holdthe scoop in an operative position the sections 6 and 7 have alined depressed grooves 10 in which the bars 11 are reciprocall mounted. By referring particularly "EX Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the bars 11 are shifted to the forward ends of the grooves when the scoop is in an operative position thereby holding the scoop against collapsing. By referring particularly to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the grooves and bars are of a dove-tailed con struction as shown in dotted lines, whereby the bars will be held against accidental dis placement. Front axle 1 has lugs 12 proecting therefrom through which suitable securing means may be passed for fixedly mounting the primary section of the scoop upon this forward axle. This scoop terminates at a point above the forward axle so that as the stones and soil are urged upwardly by the passing of fresh stones and soil on to the lower end of the scoop, the

The scoop comprises a primary section 6 stones and soil will finally fall from the inner end of the scoop as shown in Fi 4. If it be desired to move the machine from place to place or when it is not desired to gather stones, the bars 11 may slide toward the upper end edge of the grooves 10 thereby releasing the auxiliary section 7 of the scoop permitting this auxiliary section to be swung upwardly to be secured in an inoperative position.

An elongated rectangular box 13 is secured by the king bolt 14 of the front axle 1 as shown in Fig. 4 and this box 13 depends below the front axle 1. This box is further provided with a semi-circular flange 15 extending longitudinally thereof and transversely of the machine and this semi-circular flange 15 constitutes a guide as will be hereinafter shown.

The rear axle 16 is provided with supporting wheels, which wheels comprise hubs 17, spokes 18 and broad treads 19. A bracket 20 is carried adjacent each end of the rear axle 16 and is formed upon this axle so as to be held against accidental movement. These brackets 20 are provided with sleeves 21 as shown in Fig. 2 and with forwardly projecting portions 22. The auxiliary drive shaft 23 is carried by the sleeves 21 and extends transversely of the machine and has sprockets 24 adjacent its ends as shown in Fig. 5. These sprockets 24 are also provided with integral pinions 25 for purposes to be set forth. It should be further understood that plates 26 are spaced from the spokes 18 of the rear wheels by the spacers 27 although these plates 26 are fixed to rotate with the rear wheels by the bolts or other securing members 28. These plates 26 are provided with teeth 29 projecting inwardly therefrom as also shown in Fig. 5. A loose sleeve 30 is positioned upon the rear axle 16 adjacent each end thereof and this loose sleeve 30 has a hub 31 keyed thereon and this hub 31 has teeth 32 ad acent its periphery. A gear 33 is also keyed upon each hub 30, whereby rotary motion may be imparted to the gears 33.

The side rails 34 of the conveyer are provided with a transverse supporting bar 35 which is carried upon the forwardly extending portion 22 of the brackets 20 whereby these side rails will be supported adjacent their rear ends. The forward ends of these side rails 34 extend to a point adjacent the box 13 as shown in F ig. 2. The lower supporting tracks 36 are fixed in any suitable manner upon the side rails 34 and project longitudinally of these rails, although adjacent the forward ends of these siderails 34 the supporting tracks 36 pass through the box 13 and are supported by this box as shown in Fig. 4. In this manner it will be seen that the conveyer is connected to the forward and rear axles of the machine.

ing tracks 36 as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 whereby the bars will be supported throughout their entire journey when rocks are carried thereon. It should further be understood that guide flanges 41 may also be' carried by the side rails 34 and these flanges 41 are adapted to overhang the chains of the conveyer so as to protect these chains from injury and at the same time prevent dirt from clogging these chains.

The castings 42 are supported upon the supporting shaft 23 or in any other suitable manner and project rearwardly for a short distance beyond this shaft. The supporting rods 43 project upwardly from the castings 42 and are provided with a portion 44 from which project the lugs 45. Pivot bolts 46 are supported by the lugs 45 and carry the levers 47. Links 48 project from the levers 47 and are connected to the yokes 49 mount-- ed in the grooves 50 cf the hubs.31. Thus it will be seen that as the levers 47 are shifted inwardly at their upper ends they will cause the links 48 to move the yokes 49 outwardly, thus moving the teeth of the hub 31 into engagement with the teeth 29 of the plates 26. This action will cause the sleeves 30 to be shifted so as to move the gears 33 into meshing engagement with the inions 25. At this time the rear wheels wil be rotating and as a consequence rotary motion will be imparted to the chains 38 thus causing the bars 39 to be moved upwardly upon the tracks of the side rails of the conveyer.

It is of course obvious that as soon as it is desired to stop the movement of the chains and bars, the levers 47 may be swung outwardly thus drawing upon the links 38 thus causing to draw the yoke 49 for moving the teeth 32 from engagement with the teeth 29.

It should be noted that'as the chains and bars are in operation, they will be prevented from hanging upon the forward portions of the elongated box by the provision of the guide flange 15 while the chains are provided with suflicient slack to enable the chains and bars to pass safely around under I 1,aes,ees

should shift the levers 47 inwardly thus causing the hubs to mesh with the teeth, plates 26 thereby imparting movement to the chains and bars of the conveyer. As the stone gatherer is driven forwardly by drive animals secured to the whifile trees or by any other suitable motor power applied to the gatherer, it is obvious that stones and earth will be dug up by the forward portions of the scoop. As fresh earth is gathered on to a lower portion of the scoop, the earth and stones will be pushed over the inner end of the primary section of the scoop to fall onto the bars of the conveyer.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very efficient stone atherer has been provided, which will e ciently gather stones and earth. It should further be noted that very eflicient supporting means are provided for the chains which will prevent the chains from clogging or becoming inoperative in operation and at the same time will guide the chains for the operation thereof. It should also be noted that efficient means are provided for supporting the side rails of the conveyer, and the supporting shaft upon the rear axle. It is of course obvious that many minor detailed changes may be made in the construction of this invention and it is not intended to limit the construction of this invention to the specific form herein shown but it is intended to include all such forms of the invention within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a stone atherer, the combination of an axle having a ing bolt, means for supporting said axle, a scoop secured on the top of said axle, a box supported by said king bolt and a conveyer secured to said box whereby stones and earth gatheredby said machine may be deposited upon said conveyer and said box holding said conveyer against displacement.

2. In a stone gathercr, the combination of a forward axle, means for supporting said axle, gathering means carried by the top portion of said axle, a bolt projecting through said axle, an elongated box pivotally mounted upon said bolt, a conveyer secured within said box, means for driving said conveyer, whereby stones and earth gathered by said gathering means may be deposited upon said conveyer.

3. In a stone gather-er, the combination of a supporting axle, means for supporting said axle, a gathering means carried by the top portion of said axle, an elongated box secured upon the lower portions of said axle, and a conveyer means secured to said box.

4. In a stone gatherer, the combination of a supporting axle, means for supporting said axle, a gathering means carried by thetop portion of said axle, an elongated box pivotally. mounted upon said axle in a plane below said gathering means, and a conveyer means connected to said box, and said box being adapted to accommodate movement of said axle with respect to said conveyer means.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID B. FIIZ SIM'ONS. Witnesses:

M. C. MARSHALL, ROBERT F. PATTERSON. 

